Self-starting device for internal-combustion engines



F. L. RAPSON.

SELF STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. I6, 191g. Patented NOV. 29, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. L. RAPSON.

SELF STARTING'DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIOVN ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.1e. 191s.

4.13,598,796. PanteaNOv. 29,1921.

ETS-SHEET 2.

F. L. RAPSUN.

SELF STARTINGv DEVICE FOR INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

L APPLICATION FILED ocT.16, 191. 1,398,796. Patented Nov. 29, 1921o 4SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Pa'gr.

F. I. RAPsoN. SELF STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

l APPLICATION FILED ocr. Ie, 1918. i 1,398,796. Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

fija/v60 ra UNITED STATES FREDERICK LION-EL RAPsoN, 'or LIvEnrooL,nrrenlntn.l

SELF-STARTING 'DEVICE FOR NTERNIAL-COMBUST'ON ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rra-temen Nov. 29, 1921.

Application-filed October 16, 1918. Serial No. 258,425.y

To all iff/1,0m t moy concern Be it known vthat fl, Fnunnurcn LIONELRArsoN, a Subject of His Majesty the King of England, vand resident lofLiverpoohin the county of Lancaster, Kingdom of England, have invented acertain -new and useful Self-Starting Device for Internal-CombustionEngines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic mechanical engine starters ortoself-starting devices Yfor interna-l combustion engines.

1With aeroplanes or seaplanes-it is impossible at present for a pilot tostart his ma-V chine, except 'by a second person turning the propeller,which in Acase -of forced landings, after the pilot has rectified thefaul-t to his engine, he Amust obtain some one to turn the propeller,while in the case of a seaplane this is impossible. It is notpracticable to lfit aeroplanes with electric dynamo and accumulatorengine starters as the weight and upkeep of the accumulators is Atoogreat. In performing stunts for instance the acid in the accumulatorwould empty.

The present invention vhas for its object to provide a mechanica-ldevice, operable preferably from the drivers or aviators seat, whichdevice is adapted to start an internal combustion engine of, forinsta-nce@ an aeroplaneseaplane, or `a motor car by giving a powerfulimpulse tothe crank shaft after which the engine will automatically takeup its cycle of operation, and thus eliminate the above defects.

A further object of 'this invention is to provide a 'highly efficientyet cheap mechanical device which will start an internal combustionengine simply by touching a. small foot pedal or a hand lever, andfurther lto provide either automatic or hand operated means to returnthe device to its initial position ready for the next operation. Theentire mechanism is limited 'to Va single shaft and is especiallydistinguished in that eX- ceptional power is transmitted from twosources through anti-friction screw gearing which enables the engine tobe turned at a higher speed than is obtainable with any other deviceused for the same purpose. Moreover, as numerous other mechanicalstarters hitherto in use usually require a-second and sometimes a third.sh-aft to rewind the mechanism, it wil-l 'be readily understood thatwith one shaft the device isfmuch more compact, consequently very easilyatj tached to the chassis or fuselage'. @nce `fitted this device, whichis yproof against back fires, etc., will vgive no further trouble otherthan lubricating' at rare intervals, nthus overcoming the `manydifhculties connected with the upkeep of -accumulators on electricstarters and leakage; with compressed air and hydraulic starters.

With vthese and other objects in view the invention consists inproviding a device com prising a member adapted `to move axially 'orlongitudinally upon, or in relation to, a second member and rotate thesame, the 'arrangement bei-ng suc-h that when it is desired to start theengine the Vmembers are released from a normally inoperative con-.dition and the first member imparts rotary motion to the second memberto start the engine. Y

The invention further consists-in providing manually operated orautomatic means toreturn the mechanism of the device to its initialposition for a further operation.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of oneform of automaticmechanical engine starter, showing the parts in their normal orinoperative position; y

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation thereof with the parts insimilar positions to those shown in F ig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan thereof;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig'. 6 is a similar view to n ig. 2 showing the parts about to bebrought back to their initial position;

.According to one form of this invention as shown in Figs. l to 6 `ashaft or rod l is rotatably mounted in suitable anti-friction and'th-rust ball bearings 2 and 3 at each end carried by brackets 4 from atrough 'like fra-me or the likeV 5 which may be` providedv with lugs orother suitable means for connecting it to the chassis of a vehicle or t0an i aeroplane or the like. Upon the shaft or rod l is slidably mounteda nut, sleeve or runner block 6. A helical semicircular groove or thelike 7 is cut along a portion of thelength of the-shaft or rod 1 `and asimilar coperating groove 8 is also ,cut in the interior of the nut orblock 6, these cooperating helical rooves or recesses 7 and 8 is disc J.u

posed a number of ant-rfriction rollers or balls 9. These balls orArollers 9 are adapted to return and circulate through a channel or pipe1() formed or provided in the said nut or block 6. On one end of thethreaded shaft or rod 1 preferably the front end adjacent to the thrustbearing 3 is secured a ratchet wheel 11 provided with ratchet teeth 12.Adjacent to the ratchet wheel 11 is slidably mountedr on a squared orother suitably' shaped portion 13 of the shaft 1, a pinion, gear wheelor the like 14 which is adapted to engage, when in its operativeposition, with the flywheel 15 ofthe enginewhich is formed or providedwith vteeth 16 to enga-ge with the said pinion 14., The teeth 16 on thesaid flywheel 15 and gear or pinion wheel 14 are preferably tapered orpointed their ends as shown at 17 tofacilitate their engagement. Thepinion 14 is adapted to be moved into engagement with the teeth 16 onthe fly wheel 15 by'means of a suitable control mechanism or by anoperating lever or pedal 18. bracket 19 secured in the trough like frame5 is Jforked at its lower end to engage with a pin 20 provided on asliding bar 21. To the sliding bar 21 is secured a bracket 22 formedwith a depending fork 23 which'is adapted to engage in an annulargroove' 24 formed in a collarY provided at one end ofk the said pinionwheel 14. The sliding bar 21 which is normally pressed inwardly by aspring 25, is extended forwardly and formed with a slot 26 whichisadapted to engage one end of a lever 27 pivoted at 28 to a bracket 29preferably formed integrally with the bracket 4. The other end of'thislever 27 is connected to a boss 8O of a member 31 which is adapted toslide on tl e main shaft 1. The slidable member is prevented fromrotating by linedy guides 92 secured to the bracket 4 and? passingthrough. slots 33, formed in the said member. The slidable member 3.1 isalso provided with one or more spring pressed pawls 34 which are adaptedto engage with the ratchet teeth 12 formed on the side of the ratchetwheel 11 to hold the latter wheel 11 and theshaftv 1 against rotation.The ratchetwheel 11 and the slidable member 31 are formed withcoperating cone shaped es 35 and 36 respectively to Vfrictionally engageand gradually stop *the rllhis lever 18 which is pivoted to a` 15 beforethe shaft 1 is unlocked through the medium of the lever 27 and members11 and 31. Between the rear end of the runner block 6 andthe rearbracket 4 or a ball race thereon', and surrounding the shaft 1 isdisposed a strong coiled compression spring 39, preferably square incross section, which is adapted to force the said block 6 along thethreaded shaft 1 when the latter is disengaged by the members 11 and 31.Nithin this coiled spring 39 and surrounding the shaft 1 is disposed awinding coiled tension spring 40 which is secured at one end 41 to theshaft 1 and at its other end 42 to a sleeve 43 freely mounted on thesaid shaft 1. This latter spring 40 which is normally wound to a hightension is adapted to rotate the threaded shaft 1 when the previouslymentioned pawl carrying member 31 is moved out of engagement with theratchet wheel 11 and thus provide an initial turning of the shaft at ahigh speed; which rotation is continued by the pressure of the other orcompression spring 89 on the runner block 6. rllhe sleeve 43 is providedwith preferably a pair of outwardly spring pressed plungers 44 which areadapted to co-V operate with and engage in suitably arranged slots 45cut in the end of acylinder 46 connected to the rear face of the Yrunnerblock 6 in such a manner that the cylinder 46 engages with the sleeve 43and rotates the latter to rewind the inner or tension spring 40 when therunner block 6 is revolved on the shaft 1 in the manner to behereinafter described. The spring pressed plungers'44 are placed sleeve43 to facilitate the enn `:rement 'of the cylinder 46 with this sleeve.fixed Xtensions were provided on the sleeve 43.. it might happen thatthecylinder 46, when rotating, would not'engage. By .mking the ends withthe projection movable, should any such slip occur. a positiveengagement would be permitted during a further rotation of the cylinder46. The outer periphery of the runner block 6 is formed withlongitudinal grooves or teeth 47 which are adapted to coperate withlongitudinul. teeth or grooves 48 formed on a portion of the innerperipheryof an outer cylinder 49. Upon a reduced flanged extension 50 ofthis outer cylinder 49 is slidably mountedapinion 51 which is Vadaptedto engage withthe teeth 16 on the flywheell when moved into engagementby the runner block 6. The outer cylinder 49 is slidably mounted andadapted to rotate freely on the shaft 1 when the 'runner block 6 isbeing brought back to its initial position by the engine. A plurality ofplungcrs 52 are secured to the pinion wheel 51 whichcare .erativeposition.

when pressed .forwardly bythe compression spring 39 vand .move Vthe.rewinding :pinion 51 into engagement with :the flywheel 15. vWhen therewinding pinion lwheel l51 yengages the flange 54 .on .the Yreduced-portion ofthe cylinder49 .the latter will `hecarried forward 4a shortdistance. To fthe rear .end of the outer cylinder 49 is secu-red Yfaratchet wheel 55 which is -adaptedto be'engaged yloy a springgpressedpawl 56fcarried hy a casing 57 mounted on the frame 5 of the idev-ice.The `pa-.wl 56 is adapted fto .engage withthe ratchet A55 and ,hold .thecylinder 49 .against rotation inthe-opposite direction during .therewinding -of the tension .spring 40 rand prevent rotation .of thecylinder 49 when the parts are returned to their normal :or :inop- ToVallo-w for the sliding movement of :the .cylinder 49. the teeth -on theratchet :wheel 55 .are made wider than the pawl 56. The ,pinion wheel 51'lnay he formed with ,tapered :engaging teeth, previously described, toengage with the teeth 16 on the flywheel l5 when :moved Joy the runnerblock 6 yor the :alternate :teeth 16 Yof the flywheel may he vcut back,.as shown,

Vto facilitate the engagement or disengagement. Vhen the startinggpinion 14 .on the shaft 1 is moved out ofengagement with the {ly-wheel1'5 the rewinding (pinion .51 at the other side `of the flywheel 15,.returns the mechanism to its normal position. 'This latter pinion'wheel 5l is fmoved out of Vengagement Zby the Vrunner .block .6engaging vstops 58 which are formed or provided at the rear end of theinternal grooves 48 in the outer cylinder 49 and also by ythe springs onfthe plungers 52. A suitable cover or casing of a-hnninium` or othermaterial may be provided over the device to keep the same clean andprevent the .entry of dint and dust if `so desired.

- In order to prevent the device from becoming damaged in the event ofthe engine backfiring with .either the starting or rewinding pinions orboth in mesh with the flywheel 15 the pawl 56 is slidably mounted in thelcasing 57. This pawl 56 which is normally pressed into engagement withthe teeth 55 by a spring 59, isnpivoted inacarrier 60 which is slidahlymounted and movable on a rod 61 against the action of a spring 62. Thepawl 56 is provided with extensions or rollers 63 which are adapted toengage with cam shaped surfaces 64 formed on the lower portion of thecasing 57. Thus when the cylinder rotates in the opposite direction,under excessive pressure, the pawl 56 will be carried around by theratchet 55 and be disengaged automatically and thereby cause no damageto the starting mechanism of the device.

It will be understood that when the device is fitted on a motor car oran aeroplane the operating lever 18 may be operated from the A 13 .ofthe shaft 1 of the device.

Adrivers seat or other convenient Apart of .the vehicleor `:machinethrough the medium of levers, 'links or other connecting devices, or thelever may be ,operated from al foot pedal 65 connected thereto yby aswivel con- .nection v65 .as show-n in the drawings.

In operation and when it is `desired to start the engine, the operatingor control -lever of the device 18 is turned on its fulcrum to slide the5:11221 .against the action ofthe ,spring 25 and slide -the .startingpinion or gear wheel 14onthe forward squared end 18 of .the shaft 1 intoengagement with the Hy wheel 15.. Further movement of the lhar 21 willturn the :lever 27 on its `pivot .and withdraw the member `31 andthepawls 34'out of engagement withthe ratchet wheel 11 on the shaft landallow the shaft 1 to be rotated yat .a high speed .by lthewindingtension spring 40 and also vloy the main-compression spring 39 .pressingon the runner bloclc. Thus the iiy-w-heelf1-5 will :he givenseveral.revolutions to start-.the engine through the V-rnedium of thevpinion'wheel 14 .on the squared portion Vithen the runner block :6vreaches the -end ofy its travel along thescrewed portion ofthe shaft 1the springs 53 -on the plunger-s 52 are compressed, .the .rewindingpinion 51 is moved into en- ,fgagement with' the iywheel 15 and thecylinder 49 is carried forward. When the pedal or operating lever 18 isreleased the spr-ing 2.5 ,retunnsthe sliding bar 21hack to its nor-.m-a-l position .and the starting pinion 14 is moved out of engagementwith the flywheel 15. At :the samev time thel member 31 is brought intoengagement with the ratchet wheel 11 by the operation of Ythe lever 27.Thus the shaftl is first .frictio-nally engaged hy the shoes 37 engaging,the ratchet wheel 11 and then positively locked'against rotation Jaythe pawls 34 engaging the ratchet teeth 12. It will be' understood 'that the teeth 12 of the ratchet wheel 11 may he shaped to ldisengage -thepawls 34 in the event of any runner block 6 hack to its normal position,

rewind the coiled spring 40 through the medium of the slotted cylinder46 and sleeve 43, and compress the main coiled spring 39. The runnerblock 6 then engages the stops 58 on the interior of the outer orcovering cylinder 49 and moves the same rearwardly to withdraw therewinding pinion wheel 51 out of engagement with the flywheel 15. Therewinding pinion 51 will be withdrawn ofthe movement of the cylinder 49by the springs 53 on the plungers 52. The device is now ready forfurther'use when desired.

' clear of the flywheel 15 at the latter portion i runner block to causeit to rotate the shaft,

means to connect the shaftand gear, and means thrown into action by themovement of the runner block and driven by said gear to place the springmeans under tension.

2. A mechanical engine starter comprising, a gear connected with thecrank shaft of the engine, a main shaft extending parallel with the aXisof the gear, a runner block having screw threaded-engagement with theshaft, spring` means cooperating with the runner block to move itlongitudinally of the shaft for rotating the shaft, means to connect theshaft and gear, means Ato turn the runner block upon the shaft to causeit to travel in an opposite` direction thereon to place the spring meansunder tension, and means operated hyv the movement of therunner blockformoving the turning means into operative position.

3. A mechanical engine starter comprising, a gear connected with thecrank shaft of the engine, a main shaft extending parallel with the axisof the gear, a runner block having screw threaded engagement with theVshaft, spring means cooperating with the` runner block to move itlongitudinally of the shaft for rotating the shaft, means to connect theshaft and gear, means to turn the runner block upon the shaft to causeit to travel in an opposite direction thereon to place the spring meansunder tension, means operated by the movement of the runner block formoving Vthe turning means into operative position, and means adapted tohold the shaft against rotation and to release the same.

A A Vmechanical engine starter compris- I. .LL

ing, a gear connected with the crank shaft of the engine, a 'main shaftextending parallel with the axis of the gear, a second gear carried bythe shaft to rotate therewith and be shifted longitudinally thereofliao' and out of engagement with the l'irst named gear, 55

shaft, spring means coperating with the runner block to -move itlongitudinally of the shaft for rotating the shaft, means to turn therunner block fupon lthe shaft to causeit to travel in an oppositedirection upon the shaft toL place the spring'means under tension, andmeans operated by the movement of the runner block for moving theturning means into operative position.

'5. A mechanical engine starter comprising, a gear, connected with ythecrank shaft of the engine, a mainvshaft extending parallel withthe aXisof the gear, means to hold the shaft against rotation and to release thesame, a cylinder surrounding the shaft, a runner block arranged withinthe cylinder 'to movelongitudinally thereof and turn therewithv andhaving screw threaded engagement with the shaft, spring means arrangedwithin the cylinder and vengaging the runner block to move itlongitudinally of the cylinder, pawl and ratchet means to prevent thecylinder from turning inl one direction, a second gear connected withthe cylinder to turn it, means operated by the movement ofthe runnerblock to shift the second gear into' and out of engagement with the.first named gear, a third gear driven by said shaft, and means to shiftthe third gear into engagementy with the first named gear.

6. A mechanical engine starter comprising, a rotatable shaft, means forconnecti ing the shaft with the engine for starting the engine, atorsional coil spring surrounding-the shaft and connected therewith toturn it, a runner 'block having' screw threadedv engagement with theshaft, and meansv to-cause the runner lolockV to travel longitudinallyof the shaft including a compressible coil spring surrounding the shaftand engaging the block. i

In testimony whereof IV havey hereunto signed my name. K

FRED. LIONEL RAPsoN.'

